JENKINS, CASTELLANA, SWITZER FORM NITROUS COMPANY

Pro Modified racers Shannon Jenkins and Mike Castellana have joined with Brandon Switzer to open a business to help nitrous racers. Speedtech will offer assistance with all facets of nitrous, ignition and plumbing of vehicles. The facility, located in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, is scheduled to begin production in January.

Jenkins has been a Pro Mod champion in both IHRA and NHRA, and Castellana was the first driver of a nitrous-aided doorslammer to run in the six-teens. Together they form the Awesome Motorsports team.

"We are doing this because we want to ensure that the nitrous combination is alive and well in Pro Modified and that its survival will remain for years to come," Castellana said.

From his lips to Mike Baker's ear. [12-11-2003]

STOCK, SUPER STOCK RECORDS SET AT MONTGOMERY

NHRA Stock and Super Stock records fell at the second annual Stock/Super Stock National Open held over the Thanksgiving weekend at Montgomery (Alabama) Motorsports Park. One record run would have stood out among all others -- an 8.56 by Super Stock/A Automatic Barracuda pilot Charlie "Warfish" Westcott of Michigan -- but it was disallowed during a routine post-pass fuel check.

The annual race, put on by racer Bob Dennis of Montgomery, saw 38 NHRA records reset, including those by such well-known racers as Jerry Silveus of Ohio in GT/H Automatic; Doug Patrick of Florida in M/Stock Automatic; Scooter Anderson of Memphis in Super Stock/G; Paul

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Anderson of Minnesota in Super Stock/F; Terry Pierson of Mobile in GT/B Automatic; and Tom Meyers of Nebraska in Super Stock/L Automatic. A total of 138 class cars competed in the Open.

"They were flying down the race track," said Montgomery promoter Anthony Oehler. "The weather was cool on Saturday, but the track was working, and everything came together. We have more records set here than in any other part of the country."

Joe LoCicero of Atlanta won the combined Stock/Super Stock eliminations in his '88 Camaro GT/C Automatic over Gary Wisecarver's Louisiana-based '91 Camaro competing in Super Stock/C Stock. Another race is planned for next year. (Roger Richards photo)
[12-11-2003]

GILLIG RETURNS TO IHRA

Tony Gillig will return to IHRA Pro Stock racing in 2004. Gillig last competed with IHRA in 1998 and then moved to NHRA for three years. After a year off, in 2003 he was offered the driving job for Tim Huston's ASSC Racing Pro 5.0 Mustang.

The new ASSC Racing Pro Stocker, an R.J. Race Cars Ford Mustang with a Jon Kaase Racing "mountain motor," will begin pre-season testing in mid-January in Florida.
[12-11-2003]